Israeli consulate in NYC briefly shut after death threat to PM, white powder

Envelope contained threat directed at Netanyahu, who was en route to New York; employees allowed to leave after all clear given

The Israeli consulate in New York City was briefly shut and employees were barred from leaving the premises on Friday afternoon after an envelope with white powder was sent to the building along with a direct threat on the life of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hebrew media reported.

Local security forces examined the envelope’s contents and once it was clear that the substance was not harmful, workers were allowed out of the building, which houses Israel’s New York consulate and its UN mission, Channel 10 reported.

The prime minister took off earlier on Friday from Mexico City, after a tour of Latin American countries, and landed in New York later in the day, ahead of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

Netanyahu is due to address the assembly on Tuesday. He is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday. Channel 2 reported that the threat may have been be connected to the meeting, but offered no further details.